Blake Riley, center, and Warran Grajalez, right, of Riverview in maroon run with a pack of runners at the Class 4A-Region 2 cross country meet Saturday morning at North Port High. STAFF PHOTO / DENNIS MAFFEZZOLI

It was enough for Riverview to accomplishing something that has not been done in the history of the boys cross country program: win a regional title.

The Rams scored 63 points to run away from runner-up Newsome (Lithia), which had 120, at the Class 4A-Region 2 meet Saturday morning at North Port High School.

Behind a second-place finish from freshman Maddison Krstec, the North Port girls took second with 80 points, behind only Plant (Tampa) Riverview girls were third with 93.

The top six teams and first 15 individuals advance to the FHSAA Cross Country Finals on Saturday at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee.

“The top three, that’s been the key all year having those three studs up front,” said Riverview coach Jason Means, who received 15 points from the Big 3. “Hard to beat that when you have those three guys that fast up front.”

Riley was in a virtual dead heat with Jack Guyton of Plant (Tampa) for third with both crossing 16:27.50 over the slightly revamped 5K (3.1-mile) course. Guyton got the nod for bronze. Grajalez crossed in 16:29 and Volus in 16:33.

Senior Russell Natherson (18th in 17:05) and junior Matthew Berman (41st in 17:32) also scored for the Rams.

With the first-place trophy in hand, Riverview began looking for runners to hunt down next week at States, like Colin Berryhill of Coral Reef (Miami).

“Next week there is so much more competition,” Riley said. “We’ll be running earlier. It was hot out today compared to the week before at districts where it was a little cooler.

“We would like to hit our seeding or hopefully better.”

“We’re going to have some fun,” Means said. “Several are seniors, so it will be their last high school cross country race. They’ll get after it. The others are crazy, studly kids who have been training their butts off. So it will be good.”

Krstec piggybacked her district-winning performance from last week to end behind only Bailey Sullivan of Plant. The difference was considerable, as Sullivan finished in 18:52.30 to 19:13 for Krstec.

“I was trying to keep with the Plant girls and I did well,” Krstec said. “It was a good race.”

Sullivan began pulling away at the 2-mile mark. Krstec felt the pack closing in behind her shortly thereafter.

“I need to catch up to her fast,” Krstec said. “Yeah, I could hear their footsteps. That helped me accelerate. It was very competitive.

“Regionals gets your momentum up. District gave me the up I could try to win.”

Junior Sydney Guenther finished eighth in 19:41 for the Bobcats. Freshman Kaley Boethig (18th in 20:18), Shannon Collins (23rd in 20:30) and sophomore Jamie Weisberger (33rd in 20:48) also scored for North Port.

“I’m so excited,” Krstec said on North Port advancing as a team. “We will celebrate it together. It will be fun.”

Krstec’s goal at her first state meet: “Try to get in the 18th. We’ll see how it goes.”

Sophomore Michaelie Grajalez led the Riverview girls by taking 11th in 20:05. Senior Chinami Wade was two places back in 13th in 20:07. Junior Jessica Lonas (20th in 20:24), Sophomore Robyn Masterson (25th in 20:34) and Rachel Cramer (27th in 20:39) completed the scoring for the Rams.

North Port’s Jon Back nearly qualified, ending 16th in the boys race, less than 2 seconds and one spot from qualifying as an individual.

Saturday, the 4A girls race goes off at 9:35 a.m. with the 4A boys race at 10:25 a.m., the final race of the day.